Lawmakers Question Economist's Report on Healthcare in Utah

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Utah's healthcare market is consumer friendly and full of healthy competition according to an economists report. But skeptical state lawmakers appear unconvinced. During a meeting of the Privately-Owned Health Care Task Force today, legislators pressed the report's author, David Argue, to explain how rising costs and high premiums are not problematic. From an economics perspective, Argue says Intermountain Healthcare's dominance in the market allows for plenty of competition - and even lowers prices for consumers. He further maintains employers have plenty of plans to choose from and says lawmakers should not intervene in market forces.

The State Legislature spent three-hundred thousand dollars on the report, but lawmakers now say it may be too narrow to have an impact on the task force's decisions regarding Intermountain Healthcare or other market reform. The task force is inviting the public to comment on the report at its next meeting May 25th at 9 a.m.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW